Joan of Arc - Maid of Heaven (original) (raw)

Anniversary of Joan of Arc's Capture

The anniversary of Joan�s capture on May 23, 1430, is not one I really like to remember but I thought I would use it this year as an opportunity to clear up a big misconception that exists about her capture. It seems that most movies and even many books blame her capture upon the closing of the gates of the city of Compi�gne however it was actually the raising of the drawbridge over the river Oise that caused Joan to be cut off from Compi�gne and safety. As Joan herself later testified at her trial: �And the river lay between Compi�gne and the place where I was taken. And there was only between the place where I was taken and Compi�gne just the river, the boulevard, and the moat of the said boulevard.�

There are some good pictures of Compi�gne and the river Oise and drawings of where Joan was captured online at: